Hantz Financial Services Inc. Cuts Stake in Ross Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:ROST)

Hantz Financial Services Inc. cut its holdings in Ross Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:ROST) by 6.1% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 1,916 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock after selling 124 shares during the quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc.’s holdings in Ross Stores were worth $290,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Ross Stores in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $33,000. ORG Partners LLC lifted its holdings in Ross Stores by 434.1% during the fourth quarter. ORG Partners LLC now owns 235 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock worth $36,000 after buying an additional 191 shares during the period. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC purchased a new stake in Ross Stores during the third quarter worth $53,000. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise bought a new stake in Ross Stores during the 3rd quarter valued at $59,000. Finally, AM Squared Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Ross Stores in the 3rd quarter valued at $60,000. 86.86% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Ross Stores Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ ROST opened at $150.56 on Friday. Ross Stores, Inc. has a 52 week low of $127.53 and a 52 week high of $163.60. The business’s 50 day moving average price is $151.90 and its 200 day moving average price is $147.93. The company has a quick ratio of 0.98, a current ratio of 1.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. The firm has a market cap of $49.67 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.71, a P/E/G ratio of 2.48 and a beta of 1.10.

Ross Stores (NASDAQ:ROST) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 21st. The apparel retailer reported $1.48 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.41 by $0.07. Ross Stores had a net margin of 9.95% and a return on equity of 41.83%. The business had revenue of $5.10 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.15 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.33 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 3.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Ross Stores, Inc. will post 6.17 earnings per share for the current year.

Ross Stores Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 10th were paid a dividend of $0.3675 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, December 10th. This represents a $1.47 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.98%. Ross Stores’s payout ratio is currently 23.15%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. StockNews.com downgraded Ross Stores from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 19th. TD Cowen lowered their price target on shares of Ross Stores from $185.00 to $177.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, November 19th. Sanford C. Bernstein reiterated a “market perform” rating and set a $165.00 price objective (down previously from $178.00) on shares of Ross Stores in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Citigroup downgraded shares of Ross Stores from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and lowered their target price for the company from $179.00 to $152.00 in a research note on Tuesday, November 12th. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group reaffirmed a “market perform” rating and set a $175.00 price target on shares of Ross Stores in a research report on Monday, November 18th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $169.06.

Ross Stores Profile

Ross Stores, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates off-price retail apparel and home fashion stores under the Ross Dress for Less and dd’s DISCOUNTS brand names in the United States. Its stores primarily offer apparel, accessories, footwear, and home fashions. The company’s Ross Dress for Less stores sell its products at department and specialty stores to middle income households; and dd’s DISCOUNTS stores sell its products at department and discount stores for households with moderate income.